Editorial Reviews

All Music Guide - Jesse Jarnow

Whether or not pianist Ethan Iverson is literally using it, all of the Bad Plus' These Are The Vistassounds as if it was recorded with the sustain pedal of the piano depressed. It's actually probably mostly the fault of producer Tchad Blake Soul Coughing, Cibo Matto, Los Lobos, who applies his incredible treatments throughout the album, shining through especially in his work on David King's chaotic drums. Nonetheless, the Bad Plus sound as if they are in a cavernous space. The band rolls out the now-requisite jazz covers of pop tunes in this case, Nirvana's "Smells Like Teen Spirit," Blondie's "Heart of Glass," and Aphex Twin's "Flim", but it is their attitude the very ...

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Editorial Reviews

All Music Guide
- Jesse Jarnow

Whether or not pianist Ethan Iverson is literally using it, all of the Bad Plus' These Are The Vistassounds as if it was recorded with the sustain pedal of the piano depressed. It's actually probably mostly the fault of producer Tchad Blake Soul Coughing, Cibo Matto, Los Lobos, who applies his incredible treatments throughout the album, shining through especially in his work on David King's chaotic drums. Nonetheless, the Bad Plus sound as if they are in a cavernous space. The band rolls out the now-requisite jazz covers of pop tunes in this case, Nirvana's "Smells Like Teen Spirit," Blondie's "Heart of Glass," and Aphex Twin's "Flim", but it is their attitude the very fact that they hired Blake to begin with, for example that carries them the distance. The band itself is quite compelling. Iverson is a complex piano player. His skills come to bear on the abstract epic "Silence Is The Question," which closes the album, as his spidery piano lines melt into chaotic statements, left hand meeting subtly with bassist Reid Anderson, right hand meeting crazily with King. What is impressive is that the trio manages to sound contemporary using only piano, bass, and drums, and without resorting to electronic gimmicks. Whether or not the band is reinventing jazz is irrelevant. These Are The Vistas is good, interesting music.

Billboard

They are up to the task of aggressively disdaining genre conventions, in terms of upending arrangements, going with eclectic programming, and revamping their instruments' respective roles.

Absolute Sound

group’s major-label debut is the most refreshing and least-contrived fusion I’ve heard sustained across an entire album, maybe ever. This is very, very cool stuff.
group’s major-label debut is the most refreshing and least-contrived fusion I’ve heard sustained across an entire album, maybe ever. This is very, very cool stuff.

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Customer Reviews

Anonymous

Posted October 1, 2010

Wow!!!!

Nothing poetic or hip for me to say. Just intense music. Call it jazz, acoustic fusion, re-invented whatever, blah, blah, blah. It doesn't matter what you call it...it moves you deep. These guys are fresh and real. You'll find yourself calmly drifting inside the vortex of this fierce chordal malstrom called "These are the Vistas". My helmet is off to these guys. Unbelievable!!!!!

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